Material handling apparatus having a reader/writer

ABSTRACT

A material handling apparatus has a communications device associated therewith. The device includes a reader/writer for communicating with RF tags located on products supported upon the apparatus and with RF tags located within distribution networks. A further aspect of the present invention provides a RF tag attached to the apparatus and the device. In still another aspect of the present invention, a wireless local area network communications device is incorporated with the read/writer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No1/102,221 filed on Apr. 8, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/770,097 filed on Jan. 24, 2001, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,943,678 issued Sep. 13, 2005, and U.S. Provisional application No.60/177,383, filed on Jan. 24, 2000. The disclosures of the aboveapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention generally relates to thermoformed apparatus and moreparticularly to a polymeric pallet or container having a communicationsdevice.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The 48 inch by 40 inch wood pallet is an integral part of NorthAmerica's distribution system, and is involved in one way or another inthe movement of a significant proportion of all goods bought and sold.According to Material Handling Engineering, (October 1999), page 16, theU.S. Forest Service estimates there are 1.9 billion wooden pallets inAmerica. Approximately 400 million new pallets are needed each year. 175million of these are pallets repaired for reuse by industry. Therefore,roughly 225 million new wooden pallets enter the supply chain each year.The standard 48 inch by 40 inch wood pallet makes up a significantproportion of the total number of wood pallets within the over-alldistribution system.

U.S. Forest Service researchers also found that 225 million woodenpallets are sent to landfills each year. According to CHEP EquipmentPooling Systems, the largest third party pallet leasing company with 94million wooden pallets, the average 48 inch by 40 inch wooden palletweighs between 28 pounds and 65 pound at time of manufacture (dry).These traditional wooden pallets range from 48 pounds to 110 pounds inweight (wet) at time of recycling or disposal. Using these figures,approximately 17.8 billion pounds of wood is deposited in landfills eachyear. APA, the Engineered Wood Association, estimates that a standard 48inch by 40 inch style lumber stringer pallet has a three year life. Thethree year cost for this style of wooden pallet is estimated to be$11.74. A three year life is based on 15-24 trips per year. Conventionalwooden pallets have limited residual value at the end of their usefullife cycle.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers of America (hereinafter “GMA”),the largest end-user of traditional 48 inch by 40 inch wooden palletswithin the North American distribution system, the current wooden palletexchange system costs the industry nearly $2 billion to operate in 1991.For example, the trucking industry is unable to optimize semi trailerloading or per-unit transportation costs because GMA style pallets arenot capable of true four-way entry. Drivers are required to exchangeloaded pallets for empty pallets after delivery, and because of manualpallet handling injuries, workers compensation claims are significant.Grocery distributors are unable to use automated material handlingequipment efficiently because unacceptable wooden pallets must beremoved from the pallet supply chain. Grocery manufacturers and shippersexperience product damage because of design flaws in traditional woodenpallets. Furthermore, unit loading is not evenly distributed withstringer pallet designs, which results in product and packaging damagedin transport. Manufacturers must use stronger and costlier packagingbecause of wooden pallet problems. Wooden pallet sanitation and moistureabsorption difficulties affect meat and other food processors. Moreover,general pallet deterioration, manifested by protruding nails andstaples, splintered wood and missing stringers, results in significantinefficiencies within the over-all distribution system.

More and more companies are finding it preferable to employ third-partypallet management services to control the costs and logistics of usingwooden pallets. For example, some fruit growers require pallets on aseasonal basis. Wooden pallets may therefore be rented for short or longterms from third parties. Third party service companies offer nationwideaccess to pools of wooden pallets, have responsibility for collectingand redeploying pallets where they are needed, and keep the pallet poolat a relatively high level of quality to move product through thedistribution channel. The pallet tracking and retrieval systems deployedby the third party providers are more elaborate and efficient than othersegments within the wooden pallet market. For example, bar code labelshave been used to manage the efficiency of conventional pallet assets. Adirect line of sight is, however, required by the scanner to read a barcard label. The performance of these systems has been generallyunreliable and costly to implement within a wooden pallet environment.

Conventional Radio Frequency Identification (hereinafter “RFID”) systemshave also been used but without success for a number of reasons. Forinstance, there are too many makes and models of 48 inch by 40 inchwooden pallet in the market. Also, a standard protocol has not beenadvanced. Furthermore, pallet handling procedures, materialdeterioration, product damage and repair practices require a more robustRFID tag technology than is currently available and wood is not a stableplatform for the attachment of many types of RFID tags. Additionally,radio frequencies are absorbed by moisture in wood, which makes tagreads unreliable. Standard harsh operating conditions within the woodenpallet distribution system, such as thermal shock, sanitation, flexure,vibration, compressive forces, and fork impacts, can cause tagtransponder coils to break and fail.

The velocity at which 48 inch by 40 inch wooden pallets travel throughthe distribution system is far less than optimum because a significantproportion of wooden pallets are not suitable for transporting goods,damage free. Although 175 million pallets are repaired each year,industry observers claim as many as 70% of all wooden pallets havedeteriorated from their original specifications. Unacceptable woodenpallets have to be separated from acceptable wooden pallets, which istime consuming, injurious and wasteful. Accordingly, a far larger poolof wooden pallets is maintained in operation than would otherwise berequired under optimum conditions. The traditional 48 inch by 40 inchwooden pallet is therefore tremendously inefficient, costing industrybillions of dollars annually. Wooden pallets also have considerablenegative societal and environmental impacts because the recourses usedto purchase, repair and dispose wooden pallets could be more effectivelydeployed in other less costly product technology alternatives.

Accordingly, plastic pallets have been used to replace wood pallets withsome degree of success over the past several years. Plastic pallets areknown for their longevity and are generally more durable, lighterweight, compatible with automated material handling equipment, easilysanitized and 100 percent recyclable. Conventional plastic pallets,however, suffer from one significant disadvantage in that they costconsiderably more than a comparable wooden pallet. Thermoplasticmaterials constitute a significant proportion of the total cost of aplastic pallet, and a given amount of relatively expensive plasticmaterial is required to produce a pallet with a measure of load-bearingstrength that is comparable to wooden pallets.

As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,569 which issued to Mish et al.proposes applying a pressure sensitive tape to the backside of a tagcarrier and affixing the carrier to an object. Generally speaking,however, exterior attachment methodologies are not sufficiently robustand durable. Tags affixed to the exterior of the pallet can be damagedthrough wear and tear, sanitation, forklift impacts, and the like. Also,U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,527 which issued to Isaacman, et al., proposes a“cell” comprising a host transceiver and several local hard linedinterrogators that detect local tags. In the Isaacman arrangement,several cells can be networked, which allows any tagged object to beidentified from any PC within a multi-cell network.

It is significant that plastic pallet suppliers has been unable tophysically identify, locate and track, in real time, comparativelyexpensive plastic pallets within networks of distribution. It is onething to lose a low cost wooden pallet, but it is another to loose anexpensive asset. Different technologies have been proposed to attempttracking of pallet assets within the distribution system, but theseproposals have been incomplete with respect to system architectures,protocols and plastic pallet design intent. Barcodes have been used, butthese require a direct line of sight and have therefore been difficultto implement. RFID tags have been placed upon traditional molded palletsto locate and track their positions within the distribution system, butthis type of pallet is so much more expensive than a comparable woodenpallet that the cost justification for implementation is not economical.

Moreover, it is known that conditions within the operating environmentaffect the performance of the RFID system. Several U.S. patents discloseprotocols, circuitry architectures and other enabling methods forensuring the interrogator properly communicates with one or more tagswithin an interrogation zone; these include: U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,648which issued to Shindley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,416 which issued toSnodgrass et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,775 which issued to Tuttle et al.;U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,819 which issued to Roesner et al.; U.S. Pat. No.5,818,348 which issued to Walezak et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,714 whichissued to Cato; U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,779 which issued to MacLellen etal.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,987 which issued to Heinrich et al.; U.S. Pat.No. 5,955,950 which issued to Gallagher et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,144which issued to Kruest and U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,570 which issued to Blacket al. Still other proposals are offered to overcome theantenna-to-antenna communication difficulties conventionally experiencedby tag carriers, such as pallets, as they travel through interrogationfields or portals. The rapidly changing angular geometry of a tagpassing through a field or portal results in a diminishing duration andstrength of signal transmission, which can produce unreliable tagreading results. The following U.S. patents Nos. propose solutions tothis particular problem: U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,457 which issued toGhaffari et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,708,423 which issued to Ghaffari etal.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,928 which issued to Pritchett et al.; U.S. Pat.No. 5,995,898 which issued to Tuttle; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,091 whichissued to Wortham.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatusfor manufacturing extruded plastic sheet having RF devices that includesa local computer linked to a network. A sheet extruder has a first PLClinked to the local computer. An RF device applicator is spaced apartfrom the extruder and has a second PLC linked to the local computer. Thelocal computer communicates with the network and the second PLC causesthe applicator to selectively fix the RF device upon the extrudedplastic sheet.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided anapparatus for a fixing RF devices to extruded sheet used in themanufacture of thermoformed articles that includes an extruder forproviding the sheet. A gantry is spaced apart from the extruder andincludes an inventory of RF devices. A press moves the RF devices in afixed position upon the sheet. A PLC is linked to a computer in thenetwork for controlling the operation of the press.

Additionally the present invention is directed to an apparatus forfixing RF devices to extruded sheet that includes an extruder to producethe sheet with the RF devices positioned thereon. A frame is providedcomprising a roll of film and a roller. The roller compresses the filmonto the sheet with the RF devices affixed therebetween.

Further the present invention is directed to a method for communicatinginformation associated with extruded sheet from a network to a machinethat subsequently modifies the sheet and includes the steps of providinga first apparatus to extrude the sheet. A second apparatus is spacedapart from the first apparatus to affix a RF device to the sheet. Athird apparatus is spaced from the second apparatus to at least receiveinformation from the RF device on the sheet and the received informationbeing used by a machine PLC to configure a processing characteristic ofthe machine for subsequently modifying the sheet.

Further the present invention is directed to a thermoforming apparatusthat includes a computer linked to a network. A first read/write moduleis linked to the computer with a first read/write module reading datastored in a RF device affixed to an extruded sheet. A first PLC isconnected to the computer to receive the RF device data from the firstmodule and to configure an operational characteristic of the apparatusbased upon the received data. A controllable oven heats the sheet. Acontrollable platen with a controllable mold is attached thereto tocontrollably form the heated sheet into an article. A second read/writemodule is linked to the computer for writing data to the RF deviceaffixed to the article. The written data is subsequently used toidentify the article within the network.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided asystem that includes a manufacturing machine, a receiver, and anelectrical control system connected to the machine and the receiver. Anextruded sheet with at least one data storage device is affixed theretowith the sheet being manufactured by the machine into an article. Thereceiver operably interfaces with the data storage device to ascertaindata previously stored on the device and the control system changingmanufacturing characteristics of the machine based upon data receivedfrom the device.

Further the present invention is directed to a system that includes amanufacturing machine. An extruded sheet with at least one data storagedevice fixed thereto with the sheet is manufactured by the machine intoan article. A transceiver is linked to a network and operable to sendnew data to the affixed data device after being manufactured by themachine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of athermoformed pallet having a radio frequency device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a twin sheet variationof the present invention pallet.

FIG. 3 is a perspective and fragmentary view showing a second variationof the present invention pallet.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the radio frequency device employedin the present invention pallet.

FIGS. 5-7 are diagrammatic views showing the manufacturing processemployed with the present invention pallet.

FIG. 8 is diagrammatic perspective view showing the orientation of oneradio frequency device arrangement incorporated into the presentinvention pallet.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the manufacturing process employedwith the present invention pallet.

FIGS. 10-12 are cross sectional views showing various radio frequencydevice locations within the present invention pallet.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the interaction between aninterrogator and the radio frequency device employed with the presentinvention pallet.

FIG. 14 is a top elevational view showing an exemplary radio frequencydevice orientation employed with the present invention pallet.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the interaction between theinterrogator and radio frequency device employed with the presentinvention pallet.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing an interrogatorincorporated into an alternate embodiment of the present inventionpallet.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view showing replacement of a battery forthe alternate embodiment of the present invention pallet.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention pallet.

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing another preferred embodimentmanufacturing process employed with the present invention pallet.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the present invention pallet ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing the presentinvention pallet of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment tankcontainer of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing another preferred embodiment tankcontainer of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view showing an alternate embodimentrenewable power supply device employed in the present inventionapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiments of a pallet apparatus2 of the present invention employs a nesting pallet 4 and acommunications device, such as a radio frequency identification device16. Nesting pallet 4 has downwardly extending pallet legs 6 which arereceivable in pallet pockets 8 of an adjacent pallet to provide anesting configuration for consolidated storage and transportation.Pallet 4 is made of a plurality of polymeric plastic sheets thermoformedinto a single article. Pallet 4 includes a top plastic sheet 10 and abottom plastic sheet 12. This arrangement is referred to as a twin sheetconstruction. In one preferred embodiment, plastic sheet 14, shown inFIG. 3, is sandwiched between sheets 10 and 12, in what is referred toas a triple sheet construction. One advantage of a triple sheetconstruction is that the same load bearing strength of a twin sheetconstruction can be provided with a much lower measure of relativelyexpensive plastic in a triple sheet construction. Therefore, dependingupon the criteria of the end-user, triple sheet constructions can beused to provide either a lower cost or a stronger pallet 4. The presentinvention pallet 4 can be made in accordance with U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/377,792, entitled “Triple Sheet ThermoformingApparatus, Methods and Articles” which was filed on Aug. 20, 1999 by S.Muirhead; this is incorporated by reference herein. In summary, thismethod of triple sheet thermoforming provides the same measure of loadbearing strength with 25 percent to 50 percent less plastic materialthan current state of the art twin sheet thermoformed pallets. However,twin sheet thermoformed pallets characterized by U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,306to Dresen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,760 to Jordan et al., or U.S. Pat.No. 5,676,064 to Shuert, can be used to practice certain aspects of theinvention; these patents are incorporated by reference herein. A triplesheet thermoformed pallet is preferred because it provides a highermeasure of strength for the given measure of plastic used by a twinsheet pallet, and is therefore more economically fulfilling the need fora low cost alternative to wooden pallets.

The RFID system is minimally composed of three components including aninterrogator (reader or exciter), tag devises 16, and a host computer.The tag is alerted by a radio frequency wave transmitted by theinterrogator to return a data message by arrangement. The informationstored in memory is thus transmitted back to the interrogator.Information received by an interrogator is used by a host computer toprovide a reliable and a secure architecture that meets predeterminedperformance requirements. In passive RFID systems, the RF fieldgenerates voltage that is rectified to power the tag. In active RFIDsystems, a battery is the source of a tag's power supply. Both passiveand active RFID devises may be embedded within the structure of thepreferred plastic pallet.

Radio frequency identification tags and interrogators can be made inaccordance with the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,027 entitled “LuggageTag Assembly” which issued to Smithgall on Feb. 22, 2000 and U.S. Pat.No. 6,013,949 entitled “Miniature Radio Frequency Transceiver” whichissued to Tuttle on Jan. 11, 2000. Both of these patents areincorporated by reference herein.

RFID device 16 is encapsulated between the sheets forming pallet 4. Ingeneral, thermoplastic resins are extruded through a machine thatproduces a selective sheet or web of heat deformable plastic. As thepreformed sheet or web travels through the extruder, one or moresurfaces of the sheet receives one or more RFID tags. This may be doneautomatically or manually such that the tag is located on the plasticaccording to predetermined criteria corresponding to a select moldingposition upon the thermoforming tooling. Sheet thus tagged moves througha thermoforming machine that molds said sheet into a finished pallet.The tag or tags are sandwiched between the sheets of plastic forming thepallet at predetermined locations. In this manner, the tag is embedded,isolated, protected and contained in a fluid tight plastic barrier thatis resilient and long lasting and not externally, physically visible. Inorder to ensure the RFID device is not damaged in the thermoformingprocess of preference, a high temperature RFID devise methodology, suchas that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,973,599 which issued to Nicholsonet al., may be used; this patent is also incorporated by referenceherein. The location of the device within the pallet is selected forsystem requirements. A plurality of locations can be used bycross-referencing machine and extrusion direction dimension referencesupon the plastic sheet with their counter part locations upon theproperly thermoformed article. Thus, through such registrationtechniques, a consistent location for positioning the tag upon the sheetrelative to its selected location in the finished part can be repeatedwith a high degree of certainty. In more detail, molded-in structures ofthe plastic pallet may be adapted to further protect the RFID devicefrom flexural and compressive forces that may other wise damage thedevice.

The RFID devise 16 is part of a system in which data about the pallet 2is stored for retrieval according to system criteria. The advantage ofencapsulating RFID devise 16 within the structure a pallet 4 is so thatthe devise 16 is protected from the harsh environment that pallet 4 mustoperate within.

There are a number of methods that can be used to insert a RFID devise16 within thermoformed pallet 4. In one embodiment, RFID devise 16 is apassive RFID tag 18. An example of such a passive tag 18 is shown inFIG. 4. Tag 18 comprises an antenna coil 20, modulation circuitry 22 andmicro-memory chip or integrated circuit 24. Tag 18 is ultra thin, and inthe order of 1½ square inches. A plurality of tags 18 are normallyplaced upon a polymer tape substrate by the tag manufacturer anddelivered on reels for integration into a manufacturing process.

A plastic sheet is heated to a deformable temperature before it ismolded by differential vacuum pressure over a mold. Intervention isrequired to integrate the tag 18 into the present thermoforming processin order to minimize stretching and heat deformation of the PETsubstrate. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the first means of interventionincludes depositing the coil 20 and circuitry 22 (composed of printableconductive ink) and the memory chip 24 upon a flexible film substrate26. Substrate 26 is composed of a plastic material that has a high heatdeflection capability of >600° F., such as Rodgers Engineering'selectrical grade HT 12-1024 resin. After the tag 18 components aredeposited onto the substrate 26, a film substrate 28 of substantiallythe same construction is laminated over substrate 26 with a suitablehigh temperature resistant adhesive 30 there between to provide a doublelayered substrate assembly 32. A first pressure sensitive, double sidedfilm 36 a is then applied to substrate assembly 32 on the substrateside. Substrate assembly 32 is subsequently sliced or severed such thatindividual tags 18 a are produced. The tags 18 are separately andpossibly sequentially deposited onto a paper or plastic carrier 34 witha single sided, pressure sensitive adhesive film 36 b. Plastic carrier34 is wound around a hub 38 to produce a reel 40 that comprises aplurality of tags 18 that adhered to the surface of a plastic sheet byway of first adhesive film 36 a.

This arrangement produces a tag construction that is resistant todeformation under the short-term and high heat environment of thethermoforming process. Substrate 32 of tag 18 will not significantlystretch as the attached sheet 62 is deformed over a three dimensionalmolding surface. Moments of shear at the location of the tag 18 willalso be deflected through movement of the adhesive film 36 a. Adhesive30 will deflect compression upon the memory chip by providing acompression buffer (thickness) equal to the elevation of the memory chip24. In this manner, the tag 18 is developed to sustain the rigors ofthermoforming.

Another alternate variation of the communications device in thestructure of the pallet provides a power supply, an antenna, a radiofrequency transmitter, a radio frequency receiver, a digital signalprocessor, a pallet information memory chip set, a pallet identificationreader card, and circuitry. The memory chip set controls the function ofthe communicator and the identification reader card identifies thecommunicator and pallet. The communications device will thereby remotelycommunicate with an external interrogator in a wireless manner, such asby cellular telephone types of transmissions. This is used to instructthe interrogator to then query tags on or in the pallet or container.The interrogator also includes a power supply, an antenna, a radiofrequency transmitter, a radio frequency receiver, a data processingmicro-controller and circuitry.

Referring to FIG. 7, an X-Y gantry 42 is positioned along the pathtraveled by the web 44 of plastic material produced by the sheetextrusion machine (not shown). Gantry 42 cooperates with a programmablelogic controller (hereinafter “PLC”) 46 that is connected to a localarea networked personal computer (hereinafter “LAN PC”) 48. Gantry 42comprises linear high-speed indexer 50 that travels horizontally backand forth according to instructions from PLC 46. Indexer 50 furthercomprises a reel 40 (see FIG. 6)-to-reel 52 winder apparatus 54 with avertical press 56. As the web 44 travels through the gantry 42, indexer50 travels to a pre-defined location 58, the winder apparatus 54 metersthe reel 40 forward, carrying tag 18 into vertical alignment with press56. Press 56 is instructed to travel vertically to stamp tag 18 onto theweb 44. Plastic web 44 travels the length of the extruder and is finallysheared into a standardized sheet dimension at the end of the linethereby defining sheet 62. Subsequently, the sheet and tag 18 aretransported to a thermoforming machine for processing.

Referring to FIG. 8, plastic web 44 is adapted in the machine andextrusion directions to produce a plastic sheet that is dimensioned tobe thermoformed against four separate molding application surfaces 64 a,64 b, 64 c and 64 d, illustrated separately by dashed line areas. Inthis manner, four pallets 4 are produced simultaneously in thethermoforming operation. Multiple tags 18 are located on sheet 62. Oneach of surfaces 64 a and 64 b, there are three tags 18. There are alsotwo tags 18 on surfaces 64 c and 64 d. Thus, batches of pallets 4 can becustom made for different end-uses. The PC 48 interfaces with PLC 46 toinstruct indexer 50 to deposit tags 18 in a selective manner. In otherembodiments of the present invention, there may be multiple gantries 42or multiple indexers 50 on one gantry 42 for depositing a variety ofRFID tags 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d and 18 e upon sheet 62. Alternatively,host computer 80 may interface with LAN PC instructing further systems(not shown) to apply a sequential array of tags 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 dor 18 e upon the carrier 34 (see FIG. 6) producing reel 40, in thecorresponding order to their deposition upon the sheet 62.

In the preferred order of arrangement shown in FIG. 9, sheet 62 isthermoformed against a female mold located upon the lower platen of thethermoforming machine. In this manner, when sheet 62 is thermoformed,tags 18 will be encapsulated when molded sheet 68 is selectively fusedto sheet 62 in the thermoforming process. This creates a protectivebarrier around the each tag 18. It should be appreciated, however, thatother sheet forming sequences may be utilized in a variety ofthermoforming techniques to accomplish the present method.

One of the tags 18, in this example tag 18 a, interfaces with aManufacturing Management System (hereinafter “MMS”) deployed throughoutthe overall manufacturing infrastructure. Sheets 62, 68 and 70 (in thetriple sheet method) are conveyed to a thermoforming machine RFinterrogator field 72, where a RFID tag interrogator 74 identifies andreads data stored on tags 18 a. Tags 18 a send preprogrammed datapackages back to interrogator 74 a. Interrogator 74 a interfaces withLAN PC 76 connected to thermoforming machine PLC 78 interfacing throughLAN to MMS host computer 80. PLC 78 instructs machine and ancillaryequipment how to process the plastic sheets 62, 68 and/or 70. PLC 76next instructs tooling 77 how to process the plastic sheets 62, 68and/or 70. If MMS criteria are not met, the thermoforming process isdisabled. If MMS criteria are met, tag 18 a traverses an interrogatorfield 82 and tag 18 a writes and locks final data into non-volatile tag18 a memory before the pallet 4 exits said field to enter the supplychain. Other tags 18 b, 18 c, 18 d and 18 e do not interface withinterrogator fields 72 and 82.

Referring now to FIG. 10, pallet 4 is adapted to enhance the ability ofdevices 16 to survive long term pallet handling wear and tear. Inparticular, the tines 82 of a forklift vehicle 131 are used to movepallets 4 throughout the distribution network. When tines 82 areintroduced between pallet legs 6 in order to support the weight of thepallet 4 for transportation, several potentially damaging events mayoccur. For example, the tines 82 may impact the sidewalls 84 of thePallet 4 or the legs 6. Therefore, when systems (new and pre-existing)criteria necessitates a relatively close read range, and it is desirableto position the devices 16 in the area of a side wall 84 or the outsidefeet 86, it would be advantageous to affix devices 16, such as tags 18on the lower sheet of plastic 12 away from potential areas of tine 82impacts. Devices 16 can also be advantageously positioned on sheet 10 asmay be preferred in the embodiment used, with several acceptablelocations being shown. As tines 82 are introduced through pallet 4,abrasion and shear may also occur along the path traveled by the tines82. Accordingly, locations containing devices 16 may be reinforced toabsorb and protect a device chamber 88 within which the devices 16reside. This is illustrated in FIG. 11. A variety of potential chamberdesigns are possible in both twin and triple sheet constructions. Intwin sheet constructions, the preferred methodology is to encapsulateeach device 16 between two sheets of plastic 10 and 12 in an arrangementthat provides compressive, flexural, shear and anti-abrasion strength ina zone 90 contiguous to the chamber 88. A vertical side wall 92 of sheet12 circumventing chamber 88 may incorporate vertical details 94 and/orhorizontal details 96, improving the strengthening criteria. Chamber 88is further strengthened by top sheet 10 being locally recessed orlowered in side-to-side elevation so as to position the chamber awayfrom the load bearing surface of pallet 4 and in particular the edges ofpackaging and objects supported thereon.

In triple sheet constructions, other pallet strengthening techniques canbe used to increase the survivability of devices 16 within chamber 88.Sheets 62, 68 and 70 are formed to substantially position chamber 88between the top load-bearing surface 98 and the bottom tine contactingsurface 100 of pallet 4 so that the devices 16 are isolated fromdamaging events within the core of the pallet 4. This arrangement isillustrated in FIG. 12.

As understood in reference to FIG. 13, devices 16, and in particular tag18 b, are transported through zone 102 proximate interrogator 104.Interrogator 104 interfaces with a LAN PC 106 networked to a WarehouseManagement System (hereinafter “WMS”). This creates an implementationcriteria that is reliable and secure for data retrieval and storageoccurring while the pallet 4 transits through zone 102. When theread/write distance capability of the interrogator 104 is limited andnecessitates a predetermined orientation of pallet 4, some inconveniencemay occur because the pallet 4 will have to be, rotated 180°. As this isimpractical within a smooth flowing WMS, two means of interventions maybe taken to prevent this undesired handling. A first means is to applycolor-coded polymeric strip 110 upon the plastic sheet 70 (see FIGS. 19and 20) at the time of extrusion which corresponds to the location ofthe devices 16. In this manner, the pallet may be oriented by visualdesign for expediency. This will be discussed in further detailhereinafter.

System interference may also occur if a nearby devises 16 travelsoutside the interrogation zone 102 but through the interrogator's signalpattern 112. Similarly, as the pallet 4 is traveling through the WMS,devise 16 may excite other interrogators coming within reader range.These occurrences may lead to unreliable data. In order to minimizethese and other potential problems, it is preferred to encapsulatedevises 16 along a center axis 114 of pallet 4. This is shown in FIG.14. Axis 114 may progress from either the long or short side of a 48inch by 40 inch pallet 4. Devises 16 are positioned along an axis 114,which resides in a zone 115 contiguous to the center leg 116 of thepallet 4. In this manner, the tag 18 can be interrogated from either theright or left hand side of the pallet 4.

Referring to FIG. 15, where a RFID system is being employed within a newsetting, it is advantageous to position elements of a fixed fieldinterrogator, such as a transit portal 117, upon, below or well abovethe ground along the path transited by the pallet 4. Accordingly, anover or an under bearing RF link is provided when pallet 4 travelsthrough the interrogator field 102 b. This arrangement also ensures thatspaced apart metal tines 82 do not deflect interrogator signals, thuscausing unreliable reads. In the preferred embodiment, elements of theinterrogator that are positioned for an over or under bearing readpattern include the interrogator antenna assembly 118 and transmitterand receiver modules 120 and 122, respectively, and an interrogator dataprocessing and control module 124, which is proximate LAN PC 126. Withthis arrangement, improved read capability is integral to criteria forimplementation reliability and security.

It may also be understood in connection with FIG. 15, that PC 126 maycommunicate with read result display(s) 127 a positioned proximateinterrogation zone 102 b in a fixed location visible to the operatorcontrolling the movement of the pallet, or wirelessly to a display 127 bon a console 129 of a motorized pallet transporting vehicle 131. In thismanner, the system is integrated to facilitate economical movement ofpallets 4 through interrogation portal 117 and distribution network.

In the present invention, a pallet and corresponding load of taggedobjects, or stack of pallets, is positioned within the interrogationzone by a manually operated motorized pallet transporting vehicle. Theinterrogation field detects the vehicle within the zone by a triggeringdevise. The interrogator communicates with the tags in the zone, andupon completion of this task, communicates with a visual messagedelivery devise that is operative to instruct the driver to exit theinterrogation field or pass through the portal. An LED light or theequivalent can be positioned on the drive console of the vehicle toinform the driver to stop and proceed. A stop and go light arrangementcan also be positioned within the field of view of the driver to achievethe desired communication. Alternatively, the host computer receivingpallet information can interface with pallet transporting vehicle bydisplaying on a console where the pallet is to be stored within thewarehouse.

Reference should now be made of FIG. 16. Another feature of the presentinvention employs encapsulating interrogator communications device 130between the sheets forming the pallet 4. Interrogator 130 could beadapted through system architecture to take an inventory of the tags 18or sub-set of tags 18 residing upon the pallet 4. It should beappreciated that interrogator 130 is a substantially larger devise 16than tag 18. It may therefore be impractical to encapsulate theinterrogator 130 within the pallet 4 in the process manner outlinedabove. In order to insert the interrogator 130 within the pallet 4, thefollowing methodologies would be preferred. In a twin sheet palletconstruction, interrogator 130 is delivered to a selected location bymeans of a shuttle type delivery system that is adapted to move from aposition outside the form station where apparatus loads an interrogatorfrom a supply, to a position inside the form station, where theapparatus unloads the interrogator; it then shuttles back to loadanother interrogator, in between the time the first sheet 10 isthermoformed and when it is sequentially fused to thermoformed secondsheet 12. The shuttle type delivery system could also be adapted tolocate a plurality of devises 16, also including tags 18, between thetime the first sheet 10 is molded and the second sheet 12 is fused tothe first sheet 10 in a twin sheet construction. A shuttle system of thetype may alternately be substituted with a robotic arm.

It will also be appreciated that interrogator 130 will draw aconsiderable amount of power for operation. Interrogator 130 istherefore active, with power supplied from a battery 132. From time totime, interrogator battery 132 may be replaced according to amaintenance schedule contained in data array of one of tags 18,preferably tag 18 a. As was also the case with tags 18, interrogator 130will fail if delicate instruments 133, memory and integrated circuitchips 133 a or circuitry 135 printed on a circuit board 137 are damagedduring the high temperature and compression events of the thermoformingprocess. Intervention is thus required to insert battery-powereddevise(s) 16 between sheets of plastic.

Interrogator 130 is enclosed in a heat and compression resistantthermoplastic housing 134. The housing base 134 b has a flange andthread section 135. Thread section 135 accepts a thermoplastic seal andthreaded plate 136. The plate 136 is removable to replace or rechargebattery 132. Tags 18 may also be embedded in pallet 4 inside housing134. Alternatively, tags 18 are manufactured or deposited upon circuitboard 137 of interrogator 130. As shown battery, 132 may be mounted toplate 136 adapted to reconnect the battery as the plate is threaded to aclosed position. Spring terminals 138, concentrically arranged about anaxis corresponding to the rotational path of the terminals 139 on theaffixed battery 132, are developed to ensure robust connection andenduring power supply. An EMI shield 141 is provided to prevent tagreading interference; otherwise multiple pallets with goods on eachpallet stored on warehouse racking may demand the use of a directionalantenna 142. Housing flange 135 is larger in diameter than the circuitboard assembly. The circuit board assembly can be removed formaintenance, upgrading and recycling of the pallet 4. It is preferredthat the housing 134 is recyclable with pallet when emptied. Otherarrangements enclosing the devises in protective housings to withstandthe rigors of thermoforming are also practical.

In order for the pallet interrogator 130 to communicate with a LAN PC, aWireless Wide Area Communication System 140 is added. System 140 can bea cellular communicator inter-operating in an open standard environment.In the event FCC's E-911 mandate precludes utilizing cellularcommunications in this application (i.e. GPS), an alternative technologythat can be used is wireless PC communications. The circuitry of a RFbased interface PC card for a mobile PC devise could be deposited uponcircuit board 137. A local area Ethernet communicator interfaces the PCcard circuitry with a LAN PC, and through the LAN PC by the Internet tohost computer(s) 80. One or more circuit board antennas 142 may be slaveto several communications devises, as is battery 132.

In the triple sheet configuration of FIG. 17, housing 134 is containedin chamber 88 formed between plastic sheets 12 and 14. After first sheet12 is thermoformed, a shuttle type delivery system is used to deliverhousing 134 to chamber 88 such that flange 135 is selectively positionedupon first sheet 12. Concurrently, sheet 14 is thermoformed. The shuttleis extracted from the forming station, and interfacial fusion nextoccurs where sheets 12 and 14 are compressed together in thethermoforming operation. Housing 134 is enclosed between two sheets ofplastic. Third sheet 10 is thermoformed over a third molding surface andsubsequently brought into compressive contact with sheets 14 and 12. Itis not necessary that sheet 10 fuse under compression with sheet 14 atthe location of interrogator chamber 88. Before (die cut in mold) orafter pallet 4 exits the thermoforming operation, an orifice on sheet12, adjacent threaded section 135, is removed (by trimming) to laterreceive battery pack 132 affixed to plate 136. Alternatively, it may beadvantageous to place housing 134 into a chamber formed by sheets 14 and10. It may also be advantageous to chill the plate so that when theplate expands thermally, it produces a more robust closure.

The wireless interrogator is instructed to identify a plurality orsub-set of the RFID tags associated with articles supported upon thepallet. Thus, a pallet would be able to perform, for example, its owninventory check by arrangement.

The present invention is further advantageous over conventional systems,such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,527, since inserting awireless active interrogator in a plastic pallet of the presentinvention allows transportability and can be instructed to perform anoperation anywhere or at any selected time within the wireless network.Examples of such a wireless network includes digital telephony,satellite communications, wireless Internet, microwave, cellulartransmission and the like. Among other alternative embodiments of thisaspect, is an optional renewable power supply devise 351 (see FIG. 16)that rectifies voltage generated by antenna coils into stored energy ina battery at the interrogator in the plastic pallet or container. Thisaffects battery size, replacement schedules, and other problemsassociated with wireless active interrogators. This renewable devicegenerates energy, which recharges the associated battery, spring orother power reservoir in response to external agitational movement ofthe pallet during transit. The internal mechanism for the renewabledevice can be made in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,213 entitled“Ultra-flat Self Winding Watch” which issued to Grimm on Feb. 19, 1985,and is incorporated be reference herein. The internal circuitry is shownin FIG. 24 wherein the capacitor acts as the power storage reservoir.Renewable device 351, employs an oscillating weight 361, rotor 370, topgenerating coil block 365, circuit block 367 with an integrated circuit370, bottom generating coil 369, capacitor/condenser 371 andbattery/power source 373. Battery 373 is electrically connected to thecommunications device, which includes an active tag 375, andinterrogator 377 and a communicator 379.

Moreover, the wireless active interrogators could also be positionedwithin a molded structure forming part of the plastic pallet. A batterysupply information field could be part of the manufacturing memory tagor third party pallet management memory array as preventativemaintenance schedule field.

Yet another advantage of the aspect of encapsulating a plurality of RFIDdevises within the structure of a thermoformed pallet is that the samepallet can be tracked through different networks that interfaceaccording to differing substantially proprietary protocols. There areseveral popular data encoding methods, at least three data modulationstandards and a handful of proprietary anti-collision backscatterformats. It is unlikely that in the future, one devise will be able tointerface will all deployed systems, because an open standard forinteroperability has not overcome issues with respect to proprietarytechnologies. There is also a range of operating environments andcomputer operating system platforms to interface with. A combination ofdevises within one product that enables functionality at many locationswith pre-existing system infrastructures will help propel the plasticpallet through the distribution system. Notwithstanding one tag devisewith several proprietary circuits could be coupled with one or morememory chips, and one antenna coil.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, one or a plurality ofRFID devises may be provided within a single plastic pallet. Forexample, one such tag may be dedicated to manufacturing, material andrecycle information storage. One tag may be specifically adapted forpallet tracking within the distribution system. The pallet may also hosta third RFID devise specified by third parties for specialized inventorytracking activities within closed-loop or associated distributionnetworks. A fourth tag may be developed to consolidate the data arraysof several tags transported upon the pallet for more efficient datacompression and transfer. A fifth tag may be adapted for interfacingwith the RFID systems deployed by the trucking industry. Accordingly,one or more RFID devises may be embedded within one pallet to facilitateone or more operations according to different implementation objectivesthat ultimately increase the efficiency of plastic pallets.

According to this additional preferred aspect of the present invention,one RFID devise maybe used during the manufacturing process. Arelatively simple, programmable passive RFID device that provides abi-directional interface for one-time programming and multiple readingsof the memory is used. The tag on the plastic sheet is interrogated toinstruct the PLC of the thermoforming machine how the sheet is to beprocessed. In one such example, even though the standard 48 inch by 40inch wooden pallet is designed to carry 2,800 pounds, the GMA claimsapproximately 30% of the unit loads weigh less than 1,000 pounds, and66% of unit loads weight less than 2,000 pounds. Accordingly, thepreferred thermoforming method may be used to produce a select range ofstandard plastic pallets, that are produced using different plasticformulations and processing guidelines, to meet different distributionsystem needs. The machine PLC may then be instructed to communicate tothe tooling to instruct the tooling how to process the successivesheets. The thermoforming machine, production tooling and sheetmaterials thus interface with each other to recognize, synchronize,authenticate, implement and record manufacturing results to amanufacturing biased host computer. The memory array of the proposeddevise is limited to read-only data transmission and is disabled fromaccepting further programming or erasing instructions once the pallet ismade but before the tagged pallet enters the pallet supply stream. Thememory array of the manufacturing related RFID devise will containinformation pertaining to manufacture date, serial number, load bearingcapabilities, operating temperatures, material composition, repairinstructions, expiration date, recycling requirements, ownership, ISOcertificates and the like. The data contained in the array could betailored toward the needs of a third party pallet rental/leasingcompany, which can schedule and perform RFID and pallet maintenance.

This embodiment is explained in more detail as follows, with referenceto FIG. 18. An end user customer requests a custom made final product bycommunicating his specifications manually to a sales office or through aremote electrical communications interface, such as the Internet. Thecontrol system computer will use predetermined algorithms and look uptables to automatically determine the optimum manufacturing criteria forthese customer specifications. The determined manufacturing criteria issubsequently communicated to the tag manufacturing plant's local hostcomputer.

The tags are sequentially deposited upon a roll at which point the tagsreceive selective data information which is pre-programmed or stored inthe memory of each tag. The pre-formed sheets, containing the RFID tag,are subsequently conveyed to the thermoforming plant or machinery forprocessing into end products, shown in the figure as product A andproduct B.

The RFID tag on the sheet traverse and travel through the interrogationfiled prior to entry of the sheet into the thermoforming machine. Datapreviously stored and programmed into the RFID tag memory is therebycommunicated to the thermoforming machine PLC attached to theinterrogator. The PLC thereby analyses the received data and adjusts themanufacturing operation and machinery as predetermined for the specificdata criteria analyzed.

For example, fire retardant fillers in the plastic sheet require alonger period of time for heating in the ovens. Thus, data regarding thepresence of fire retardant materials, which has been previouslyprogrammed or stored in the RFID tag memory, instructs the PLC of itspresence and the PLC then controls the machinery to provide increasedheat in the ovens for the specific sheet about to enter the ovens. Thenext sheet to be processed many not have a fire retardant filler andthus the PLC will accordingly vary the machinery and processingoperation to reduce the oven heat applied to that subsequent sheet to beprocessed. In another example, an end product may be desired to have ametal frame inserted for increased load bearing strength. When theinterrogator receives this information from the RFID tag attached to asheet to be processed, the PLC operating the processing machinery willthen instruct an auxiliary input A machine to insert a metal framebetween a pair of sheets being processed. This can be done by a roboticarm or through other automation. The process is completed according tothe preprogrammed manufacturing instructions in the machinery PLC, asaltered or varied by data stored in the RFID tag for each sheet beingprocessed. After completion, the PLC communicates the record ofcompletion to a network computer for billing purposes and otherstatistical process control information.

Still according to this aspect of the present invention, one or moreRFID devises can be used to identify, locate and track a pallet withinthe distribution network throughout the pallet's life cycle. In themanner, computer based tools can be utilized to increase the velocity ofthe pallet through the system. In other words, the pallets are managedas an asset rather than an expense. The pallet is tracked using a morecomplex programmable RFID device that provides a variety of operatingmodes (single tag/multiple tag environments), including multiple writeand read (EEPROM) capabilities. Tagged pallets traverse interrogationfields distributed throughout the distribution network to record thepallet's progress through the distribution system. The RFID devisesinclude anti-collision modulation options to resolve backscatter whenmultiple tags are in the same interrogation fields. Automatic palletmaterial handling equipment is upgraded to accommodate readers andcommunicators. Supply chain management and control of the movement ofpallets through the distribution system are facilitated with real-timedata input from the integrated RFID system. Host, interrogator and taginterface according to various implementation criteria, such as lastscan time & date, movement order number field, “from” field, “to” field,shipper field, pallet rental release field, and pallet returninstructions. RFID technology provides a two-way flow of informationbetween the pallet and the system server to help propel the palletthrough the distribution system. The RFID devise may also carry its ownelectronic manifest. A more efficient use of plastic pallets will reducethe total number of pallets required by the over all distributionsystem.

According to a further feature of the invention, each RFID devise thatmay be contained in the pallet may be developed to operate on differentradio frequencies (13.56 megahertz to 2.45 gigahertz) in order tooptimize system performance and minimize the cost of interrogators andtags. Each devise may use a different coding waveform algorithm toreduce data recovery errors, bandwidth problems, synchronizationlimitations and other system design and cost considerations. Forexample, the pallet manufacturer does not need interrogation systemsinterfacing with the tracking systems, and versa visa. Thus, a lesselaborate and costly RFID system is needed by the thermoformingmanufacturer to deploy RFID systems. Similar tag devise transmissionsmay be echeloned according to prescribed system criteria or other palletmanagement tools or model algorithms.

As Faraday's law and Lenz's law are well known, it is also understoodthat the parallel orientation, and distance between the reader and tagantenna coils in respect of each other are important for the successfuloperation of passive RFID devises in particular. Read range is lower inhigher frequency passive RFID devises. Furthermore, it is understoodthat induction is maximized when the antenna coils are perpendicular tothe direction of the radio frequency signal. Therefore, another featureof the present invention provides for encapsulation of RFID deviseswithin the structure of the plastic pallet. In one embodiment, aninterrogator is contained in a vertical freestanding structure off tothe side of the path traveled by the RFID devise. Accordingly, theantenna coils located in the interrogator and pallet are verticallyoriented in approximate parallel condition to facilitate a proper signaltransmission. In another embodiment, an interrogator is placed upon orunder ground along the path traveled by the pallet, or alternativelysuspended from above. In such an arrangement, it is advantageous toorient the respective antenna coils substantially horizontal in anapproximate parallel condition to facilitate induction. These laterarrangements would be difficult to duplicate and implement with woodenpallets because water absorbed by the wood would impede or reflect theRF signal away from the tag antenna.

A further preferred method of attaching RFID tags to polymeric sheets isas follows, with reference to FIG. 19. A polyethylene or polypropylenesheet 501 is created by an extruder 503 and a pair of opposed rolls 505.The continuously created sheet is then fed through an indexer 507 atwhich point RFID tags 509 are fed from tag rolls 511 which are depositedin a spaced fashion upon an upper surface of sheet 501. A narrow roll ofpolyethylene or polypropylene film 513 is simultaneously unwound from afilm roll 517 and then compressed by a spring biased application roller519 upon sheet 501 and covering each tag 509. The film is thermallybonded to sheet 501 by compression of heated spring biased applicationroller 519. The continuous sheet 501 is subsequently sheared or cut intoseparate preformed sheets 521 by a shearing machine 523.

It is alternately envisioned that the film is colored so that it can beused to indicate tag location inside of a pallet for correct orientationto provide accurate readings as previously disclosed. For example, aplurality of colored films may be applied to denote RFID tagimplementation criteria. For example, FIGS. 20 and 21 show a four-upsheet wherein one operation yields four formed parts; in other words,four pre-formed sheets, with respective RFID tags, are not severed untilafter thermoforming. Film 513 is shown in two distinct and parallel,elongated locations covering RFID tags 509 upon the four-up sheet 521.Film 513 further protects the underlying tags 509 as the leading edge531 of a subsequently severed sheet is angularly moved along a lowersheet 521 during stacking.

Another preferred embodiment application of the thermoforming andcommunications device technology is shown in FIG. 22. In thisembodiment, a gasoline fuel tank 601, such as those used with anautomobile, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, airplane, boat or othermotorized vehicle, is made using twin or triple sheet thermoforming.Tank 601 is made of three, three-dimensionally formed sheets of plastic,603, 605 and 607, respectively, which are all joined together duringprocessing. A bottom hollow section 609 operably contains a liquid, suchas gasoline fuel. A top hollow section 611 contains fuel filler, filter,and other standard devices 613 necessary for the operation of tank 601.

A communications device 621 is attached to an inside surface of sheet607 within top hollow section 611 prior to thermoforming, as waspreviously disclosed herein with the pallet manufacturing. As the fuelis removed for engine combustion, environmentally hazardous gases areleft to fill the space unoccupied by the fuel. Top hollow section 611acts as a reservoir that contains the harmful gases that would otherwiseescape through the devices 613 into the environment. The devices 613 canalso recirculate the gas back into the lower hollow ections 609, in aconventional manner. An instrument section of communications device 621is operable to inspect and monitor the barrier performance of top hollowsection 611 to ensure compliance with governmental regulations. When thevehicle is inspected, the data generated and stored by the instrument ofdevice 621 is then conveyed through radio frequency communications to anexternal monitoring device operated by the governmental regulatingauthority for inspection purposes. The instrument section of device 621can be battery activated in an active manner to provide regularintervals of inspection, can be passive to receive power when externallyinterrogated, or can be triggered one time when a predeterminedthreshold is met.

A further preferred application of the present invention is shown inFIG. 23. A bulk container 701 operably carries a hazardous materialtherein. For example, a two-part polyurethane container system is madefrom three sheets 703, 705 and 707 which are thermoformed and joined aspreviously disclosed herein to provide container 701 with two reservoirs709 and 711. Flange plates 713 and 715, having threads, are formed ontocontainer 701 to receive metering pump elements (not shown). Theseflange plates are made in accordance with those disclosed for batteryreplacement in the pallets. Pockets or receptacles 717 are createdbetween adjacent internal sheets 703 and 705 at an overlapping margin toreceive RFID tag devices. The RFID tags perform a range of functionswhich include recording of chemical formulas of material containedwithin reservoirs 709 and 711, storage of safety data for storing, cleanup information, worker injury information (such as that traditionallycontained on a material safety data sheet), temperatures, thermal shock,and for disposal instructions. This data can later be interrogated byand external interrogator or the like.

While the preferred embodiment of the thermoformed pallet having a radiofrequency device has been disclosed, it should be appreciated that othervariations may be employed. For example, with a shuttle type deliverysystem and methodology, the gantry and laminator apparatus are notrequired. There are several other methodologies that may be used topractice the useful purposes of embedding sophisticated communicationsand other technological devices within the structure of a plastic pallet2. Furthermore, analog or solid state circuitry can be employed insteadof the microprocessors, integrated circuits and computers disclosed.There are a number of different reinforcing structures that can bemolded into two or more sheets of plastic to reinforce the area aroundthe devices 16. It is not necessary to form a complete chamber inplastic, so long as device 16 remains in the areas developed to protectthe device from thermoforming shock, and operating wear and tear. It isalso understood that access to the devices may be from the top or bottomin the wide variety of pallets contemplated in the present methodology.Furthermore, the RFID tags can also be attached to other heat andpressure formable sheets, such as cardboard, fiberglass, or the like,prior to three dimensional forming of the sheets. Additionally, the RFIDtags and other electrical communications devices can be employed tomonitor food conditions within a food container. While various materialshave been disclosed, it should be appreciated that other materials canbe employed. It is intended by the following claims to cover these andany other departures from the disclosed embodiments which fall withinthe true spirit of this invention.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A product conveyance for transporting and storingobjects within a supply chain network with an electronic systemcomprising: an RF tag reader/writer operable for communicating with atleast one RF tag associated with at least one object transported andstored on the conveyance.
 25. A product conveyance as set forth in claim24 in which: said reader/writer includes at least one antenna, saidantenna having the ability to send a communications signal, and saidantenna having the ability to receive a communications signal from an RFtag associated with an object.
 26. A product conveyance as set forth inclaim 24 which includes: said reader/writer being integrated with acommunications device that includes at least one antenna for sending andreceiving a second communications signal in a wireless local areanetwork.
 27. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 24 whichincludes: a device for storing a unique identifier to identify theindividual product conveyance with which the device is associated withina network.
 28. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 24 whichincludes: a microprocessor for controlling and for processing signalsfrom an RF tag and from a wireless local area network.
 29. A productconveyance as set forth in claim 24 which includes: a conveyance RF tag.30. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 29 which includes: saidconveyance RF tag being operable to communicatively couple with thereader/writer.
 31. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 30 whichincludes: said conveyance RF tag being further operable tocommunicatively couple with other reader/writers located in the supplychain network.
 32. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 31 inwhich: said reader/writer receives signal containing data, and saidreader/writer transfers the data to said conveyance RF tag for storagetherein and to the communications device for communicating in thewireless local area network.
 33. A product conveyance as set forth inclaim 32 which includes: said reader/writer being further operable tocommunicatively couple with other RF tags located in range of the supplychain network.
 34. A product conveyance as set forth in claim 24 whichincludes: said product conveyance being an object, food, materialtransportation, and storage structure selected from the group consistingof a pallet, a container, a carrier and a tank.
 35. A product conveyancecomprising: a tag reader for detecting a first RFID tag associated witha product carried by the conveyance, said tag reader having an antennato send a query signal to the RFID tag associated with the product todetermine the location of the product, a communications devicecontrolling said tag reader and having a second RFID tag, said tagreader receiving signals and transferring data contained in the signalsto said second RFID tag, and a portable power supply for supplyingelectric power to said tag reader and to said communications device.